Kristi and I were watching a sunset on a local’s beach in Phu Quoc, Vietnam, when a trio of young men – armed with grilled shrimp, a giant karaoke machine, and enough beer to drown a mule – waved us over. At first we shyly resisted, smiled and said thanks but no thanks, but they insisted. We decided to join them and within a few minutes Kristi was singing One way or another, I’m gonna getcha getcha getcha one way, or another and I was taking shots of some mysterious moonshine. I never, ever, take shots. Kristi, however, sings Blondie with great frequency.

We were soon joined by the families of the boys, and spent the next hour posing for photos, talking with our hands, eating grilled snacks, and taking gulps of beer between boisterous toasts.

As we hung out with the locals, I thought about how not that long ago our countries were mired in a brutal war, and the idea of Americans and Vietnamese hanging out on the beach seemed impossible. The thing is, people all over the world are basically the same. We all enjoy hanging out with family and friends, and everyone is a fan of grilled snacks on the beach. We are too easily divided by politicians and religious fanatics who exploit our differences for their own gain. If we could organize karaoke parties with people from all over the world perhaps we’d all see just how similar we are. Karaoke is better than war, unless I’m singing. I should note that I did not sing because my voice would cause an international incident and lead to shell shock for all in attendance.

Or better yet, maybe we need to get our bellicose world leaders together for some televised karaoke. If Trump, Putin, Assad, and Kim Jong Un had to sing on live TV, maybe they’d be knocked down a few pegs. Maybe karaoke is the key to world peace.

Anyway, hanging out with the Vietnamese locals gave me a bit of hope for the future, which is a valuable thing in this current political climate. Maybe someday soon I’ll be in Pyongyang taking shots of Korean moonshine as Kristi sings Elton John, although it may not be possible to sing Rocket Man in the north of Korea during my lifetime.

Here are some photos I snapped that evening in Phu Quoc. I should note that even though they had an old-school speaker and clunky microphone, the song lyrics were beamed from the sky into our cell phones.

The last photo seems to be taken after the nth beer can and even more songs. 🙂 Without blogs like yours the world can be really depressing, Jeff. Today A and B are fighting C, then A and B are fighting between themselves, then D joins and helps A, but B decides to unite with C to fight A and D … an endless web of enmities.

Yes, the photos got progressively drunker! For the last 2.5 years (since Trump started his presidential run) the internet and world have been very depressing. I am glad you found some happiness here. 🙂

Often times in travel it is the completely unexpected that make the best experiences. Before we go, we know what sites we sill see, but we can never predict what sort of serendipitous adventures we will find.

The image in my head of Trump and Kim doing karaoke is going to leave a smile on my face all day. I couldn’t agree with you more that most of us just want peace, happiness , and hanging out with friends and family (the shrimp sound good too). I think they need you in Washington DC Jeff. Love your plan!

Jeff, I so enjoyed this post. If only we could all experience this kind of random connection with people in various parts of world. I couldn’t agree with you more, we are all just people in search of similar things in life. This has been my experience in any of my travels & one I always refer back to when I hear the war of political bullshit that inundates us on a daily basis. Thank you for sharing this wonderful piece.

I am often struck by just how similar we are all over the world. I remember watching a soccer/football match in Egypt with some local guys and thinking how they are just like southerners watching football/American football on Saturday mornings. I am happy you’ve had the same experiences.

Jeff, Vietnamese hooch and karaoke on the beach sounds (and looks) like a party to me. Hope for the future is always good and, as you say, is in short supply these days. We just spent a couple of weeks in Ireland and are in Belgium now, and no one, thank goodness, has mentioned our simple-minded, dangerous president. Maybe that’s hope too. BTW, did the BeeGees make into the rotation? ~ James

Hahaha, nothing better than karaoke to bond over…music is indeed universal, kudos for taking the microphone in public…or perhaps the drinking helped as much…haha…I still prefer my karaoke behind closed doors but I guess, it works this way as well…:)

Jeff I have missed your writing a great deal. Brilliant idea. Karaoke machines to all governments immediately. I love that complete strangers can come together and have such fun. I could match you in window cracking trauma inducing singing voice. I’ll be on the tambourine.

About Me

Hi, my name is Jeff Bell. I went to Europe on a two-month trip in 2001 and never stopped traveling. I am currently living in Bangkok, Thailand. Follow along for photo essays, travel stories and the occasional cartoon.